These two are the first such critical and severe COVID cases reported in the district so far and so many shortcomings have already been witnessed. Well equipped ICU and Isolation Wards seem to be the urgent need of the hour in Kangpokpi District.
TFM Representative, Kangpokpi
The dreaded COVID-19 second wave while infecting almost hundred in Kangpokpi District so far, claimed two lives — a 78 year old man and a 60 year old woman at Shija Hospital Imphal and at a temporary isolation ward at District Hospital Kangpokpi respectively, on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, unavailability of well equipped ICU and Isolation Ward could become another main factor for COVID fatality in the district if not addressed urgently by the concerned authority and the state government.
With ten more positive cases detected on Wednesday, the active cases in Kangpokpi District reached 80 including a two month old baby.
The 78 year old man from Ramgailong Laimanai in Kangpokpi District was admitted in a COVID Ward at Shija Hospital on May 4 morning.
At around 7 am Wednesday morning his condition deteriorated and CPR was initiated according to the latest ACLS protocols but he went into Cardiac arrest and there was no return of spontaneous circulation. He was declared dead at around 8 am to become the first COVID person from the district to have died of COVID second wave.
Meanwhile, a 60 year old diabetic woman from Kangpokpi Ward No. 4 was in critical condition on Wednesday midnight and she was immediately evacuated at Kangpokpi Christian Hospital where she was found to be infected with the dreaded COVID-19 on being tested using Rapid Antigen Test.
She was also reportedly vaccinated with the first dose of Covishield a week back.
Her Peripheral Pulse Oximeter (SPO2) was as low as 45 percent. She was immediately given oxygen as per doctor advised. At around 2:30 am her condition worsened and as advised by a doctor on duty at District Hospital Kangpokpi she was immediately taken to COVID Care Centre at Leikop.
This was when the problem began as the COVID Care Centre was to be fully functional only on Wednesday. Apart from that as per protocol any COVID patient whose SPO2 is below 80 percent has to be admitted in an Isolation Ward not at the COVID Care Centre while no ICU or Isolation Ward is available in the district as of now.
All contact was made by the patient party and later they were advised to take back the patient to the District Hospital where emergency Isolation Ward has been arranged for the patient.
She could have been shifted to Imphal as no more bed has been reportedly available even in private hospitals.
“What could we do in such a critical situation? Do we have to wait and watch my mother breathing her last as nothing more could be done except providing her oxygen,” said the one of the patient’s sons.
This is the first such critical and severe COVID case reported in the district so far and so many shortcomings have already been witnessed. Well equipped ICU and Isolation Ward seems to be the urgent need of the hour in Kangpokpi District.
The deceased victim was buried following the protocols late this afternoon.
Following the fatality case and hospitalisation of COVID-19 positive persons at the District Hospital only accident and delivery emergency cases will be accepted in the hospital until further notice.
Meanwhile, in pursuance of Health Department order No.MED-170/25/CC-HS-HEALTH dated May 2, 2021 and as discussed in a review meeting chaired by Kangpokpi AC MLA Nemcha Kipgen on May 3, one building each in Kangpokpi AC, Saikul AC and Saitu to accomodate 50 persons both male and female have been identified as Community Home Isolation Centre and in this regard DC Kangpokpi has issued an order on Wednesday.
The identified Community Home Isolation Centres are a BJP Office building in Kangpokpi DHQs for Kangpokpi AC, Thangtong Hr. Sec. School, Saikul for Saikul AC and Sanaton Sankrit Vidyalaya, Charhajare for Saitu AC.
The Community Home Isolation Centre shall be run by the concerned Assembly Constituency COVID-19 Management Committee. The centre shall provide free of cost Home Isolation facilities to asymptomatic COVID-19 cases who cannot maintain adequate home Isolation in terms of individual toilets, bedroom, etc. at their residence.
The District Home Isolation team of the Health Department shall monitor and visit the inmates from time to time while the Community Home Isolation Centres are in addition to the COVID Care Centre at Leikop which house only mild symptomatic patients, stated the DC’s orders.